RESIDENTS' FEARS OVER USED NEEDLE DISCOVERY

USED drug needles found on a Wokingham estate have sparked fears that anti-social behaviour problems have not improved despite increased police patrols.

Woosehill residents spoke out about gangs of yobs gathering outside their homes late at night at last Thursday night’s Barkham, Emmbrook and Woosehill police liaison meeting at St Paul’s Junior School.

One resident, who did not wish to be named, told the Times after the meeting that a crowd of 50 youngsters had gathered outside her house in Linnet Walk just before Christmas and left used drug needles and smashed glass bottles in her front garden.

The needles were found by council workers who had been called out by residents to clear up shards of glass bottles left behind by the gang.

The popular pathway in the heart of the Woosehill estate is used by residents to get to and from the town as well as parents and school children going to St Paul’s Junior School.

The find is the latest in a series of complaints by residents about under-age drinking, vandalism and anti-social behaviour in the Woosehill area.

“It is horrific to think there were used drug needles just discarded near my front door,” said the frightened resident.

“Loads of people use Linnet Walk and they could have easily trodden on the needles or children could have picked them up.

“When the council told us they’d found drug needles in the front gardens they couldn’t believe it, neither could we.”

“We’ve had problems for years. When you get 40 odd youngsters shouting right outside your front door it’s really intimidating and very frightening.”

A mum of two from Woosehill, who was at the meeting, said vandals had kicked down her fence in the front garden in the last few weeks.

“You’d be a fool to go outside your own front door when these hooligans are about. Police have been around but it doesn’t seem to have solved the problems,” she said.

Another resident suggested a curfew in parts of the estate could act as a good deterrent to stop youngsters hanging around at night.

Peggy Priest, a volunteer youth worker who lives on the estate, said at the meeting that residents could not expect police to deal with problems of anti-social behaviour alone.

She urged residents to write to the district council asking for permanent facilities for youngsters.

She said: “90 per cent of the youngsters in Woosehill are OK but it’s the 10 per cent who stir up trouble who are the problem.

“There are teenagers from Wokingham, Winnersh and Finchampstead coming onto the estate, so its not all kids from here who are responsible for what goes on.”

Sgt Tim Woolford, from Wokingham police, said if residents saw evidence of anti-social behaviour in their street, and in particular evidence of drug taking, they should contact the police.

He added some trouble-makers had been reprimanded by police over the last few months resulting in letters being sent home to